KSL.com Sports' Pro Football Pick'em Week 1 preview

SALT LAKE CITY — The NFL season is finally upon us. After months of waiting, we are gifted with some great Week 1 matchups that include divisional matchups and a playoff rematch.

Pittsburgh Steelers (0-0) vs. New York Jets (0-0)

Sunday, Sept. 7, 11 a.m. MDT – MetLife Stadium (CBS)

The Steelers and Jets start their 2025 campaign facing the opposing quarterback that was a starter for their own team in 2024.

Why Pittsburgh will win:

The Steelers shook up their offense in the offseason, trading for DK Metcalf and signing quarterback Aaron Rodgers. In what has been a revolving door at quarterback since Ben Roethlisberger retired, Pittsburgh hopes for better results with Aaron Rodgers, even though 2025 might be the four-time MVP's final year.

Under head coach Mike Tomlin, the Steelers always win the games they are supposed to win and facing a new-look Jets team should allow Pittsburgh to see what their new offense will look like this season. This will be the first game for New York's head coach Aaron Glenn, who came over from Detroit, and facing one of the NFL's most consistent franchises isn't an easy start.

With a lot of questions surrounding the Jets' offense, the Steelers' defense, led by T.J. Watt, should make life hard on Justin Fields and the rest of New York's offense.

Why New York will win:

Jets fans once again have optimism heading into a new season, but that hasn't worked out just yet. Glenn brings new energy to New York and their defense should be good once again under Glenn after he did wonders with the Lions over the last four years.

Justin Fields has been an intriguing quarterback during his time in the NFL. He has been inconsistent as a passer but his athleticism has never been a question and he has shown flashes of being a capable starting quarterback in this league. Fields reunites with former Ohio State teammate, Garrett Wilson, after the two formed a lethal connection in college. If the two Buckeyes can reignite that spark, the Jets' offense has a chance to be much better in 2025.

Line: PIT -2.5

Over/Under: 38.5

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (0-0) vs. Atlanta Falcons (0-0)

Sunday, Sept. 7, 11 a.m. MDT – Mercedes-Benz Stadium (FOX)

The Buccaneers and Falcons renew their NFC South rivalry in an early-season divisional matchup.

Why Tampa Bay will win:

Baker Mayfield leads an explosive Tampa Bay offense that shouldn't miss a beat even without wide receivers Chris Godwin and Jalen McMillan in the lineup to start the year. Rookie wide receiver Emeka Egbuka was a standout all preseason and will slide in right next to Pro Bowl wideout Mike Evans. The team has high hopes for second-year running back Bucky Irving who took over the starting position during a stellar rookie campaign.

Head coach Todd Bowles has always been a great defensive coach during his time in the NFL but will need to see the defense improve this season after finishing 18th in total defense in 2024. Adding pass rusher Haasan Reddick should help out the defense and getting to the quarterback could help the team's pass defense.

The Buccaneers ranked fourth in run defense last season and stopping the Falcons' run game could force long third down passing situations for Atlanta's young quarterback.

Why Atlanta will win:

The Falcons swept the Buccaneers in 2024, however Kirk Cousins was the team's starting quarterback. Michael Penix Jr. now leads a talented young offense in Atlanta with talented weapons such as running back Bijan Robinson and pass catchers Drake London, Darnell Mooney and Kyle Pitts.

Safety Jessie Bates III is one of the best in the game and has intercepted Mayfield twice in his career with one coming in last season's October 27 matchup. If the Falcons' defense can hold Tampa Bay to field goals and get stops, their offense should be able to put up points in what has the potential to be one of the best in the NFL this season.

Line: TB -1.5

Over/Under: 47.5

San Francisco 49ers (0-0) vs. Seattle Seahawks (0-0)

Sunday, Sept. 7, 2:05 p.m. MDT – Lumen Field (FOX)

San Francisco looks to bounce back from a disappointing season a year ago, while the Seahawks and new quarterback Sam Darnold look to get an early division win.

Why San Francisco will win:

The 49ers were plagued by injuries and inconsistencies a season ago, finishing at the bottom of the NFC West with a 6-11 record. Looking to bounce back is superstar running back Christian McCaffrey who battled injuries in 2024 as he hopes to regain his 2023 form.

San Francisco had a much less drama-filled offseason that should keep the team focused as it enters the new season. Quarterback Brock Purdy and star linebacker Fred Warner received new contracts while the team reloaded at other positions.

Robert Saleh is back as the defensive coordinator under head coach Kyle Shanahan, where he helped build one of the best defenses in the league. Saleh and pass rusher Nick Bosa should get back to creating havoc for opposing offenses after the 49er defense wasn't as effective in 2024.

Purdy has a career record of 5-1 against the Seahawks and a 3-0 record in Seattle. With the team looking healthy and reloaded, San Francisco hopes to remain undefeated in Seattle with Purdy.

Why Seattle will win:

The Seahawks are entering year two in Mike Macdonald's tenure after missing the playoffs despite going 10-7 last season. Sam Darnold is the new starting quarterback for Seattle after parting ways with Geno Smith. Darnold had a career year in 2024 with Minnesota but it remains to be seen if that was due to the amount of weapons Darnold had with the Vikings.

Darnold will have talented wideout Jaxon Smith-Njigba to thow to while also being able to rely on running backs Kenneth Walker and Zach Charbonnet.

Macdonald is one of the best defensive minds in football, coaching strong defenses at the University of Michigan before leading one of the top units in Baltimore. He has the pieces in Seattle to lead another strong defensive group. The Seahawks' defensive line is stacked with talent, from veteran Leonard Williams to 2024 first-round pick Byron Murphy II. The secondary also includes standouts like Devon Witherspoon and Riq Woolen.

This defense has a chance to be special in 2025 and playing their rival in one of the hardest places to play in the NFL should help Darnold kick off his Seahawks tenure.

Line: SF -2.5

Over/Under: 43.5

Detroit Lions (0-0) vs. Green Bay Packers (0-0)

Sunday, Sept. 7, 2:25 p.m. MDT – Lambeau Field (CBS)

The Lions and Packers clash in Green Bay in another early-season divisional matchup in what could be the NFL's best division once again in 2025.

Why Detroit will win:

Head coach Dan Campbell has turned around a Detroit Franchise that was once the laughing stock of the NFL. At the center of his team's culture change is quarterback Jared Goff, who led a dynamic offense last season. Losing offensive coordinator Ben Johnson might hurt the Lions, but the team returns its core of offensive weapons.

Jahmyr Gibbs leads a talented one-two punch in the backfield with running mate David Montgomery while receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown has blossomed into one of the league's best.

One of the biggest X-factors for Detroit will be the health of star pass rusher Aiden Hutchinson after he suffered a gruesome leg injury a season ago. If Hutchinson can regain his explosiveness off the line of scrimmage, he should create nightmares all season for opposing offenses, including Green Bay's.

Why Green Bay will win:

The Lions lost both coordinators to head coaching positions this offseason and whether or not Campbell's replacements can replicate the teams' success remains to be seen.

The Packers made a splash a week ago when the team traded for Cowboys All-Pro pass rusher Micah Parsons. He should help a Green Bay pass rush that hasn't seen a player record a double-digit sack season since Za'Darius Smith in 2020.

The Packers also finally drafted a wide receiver in the first round of the NFL draft after selecting Texas wideout Matthew Golden with the 23rd pick in April's draft. Golden has the potential to claim that top receiver spot for quarterback Jordan Love and he will have a great chance to do so against a defense that struggled against the pass in 2024.

Line: GB -1.5

Over/Under: 47.5

Baltimore Ravens (0-0) vs. Buffalo Bills (0-0)

Sunday, Sept. 7, 6:20 p.m. MDT – Highmark Stadium (NBC)

The Ravens travel to Buffalo to take on the Bills in a rematch of last year's divisional round matchup.

Why Baltimore will win:

The time to finally get over the hump has to come in 2025 for the Ravens. Quarterback Lamar Jackson has his best collection of weapons that he has ever played with, led by the ageless wonder Derrick Henry who nearly had a 2,000 yard rushing season at age 30.

The defense also looks to be one of the NFL's best this season after adding veteran cornerback Jaire Alexander and rookie safety Malaki Starks to an already great defense.

Head Coach John Habaugh is running out of excuses for why his team continues to fall short in January. The Ravens will be looking to avenge their playoff loss to Buffalo and Jackson may have something to prove after being robbed of his third MVP trophy after losing it to the Bill's Josh Allen.

Why Buffalo will win:

The Bills are another team that is looking to get over the hump in 2025 and all they have yet to prove is beating the Kansas City Chiefs in the playoffs in order to reach the Super Bowl.

Quarterback Josh Allen is coming off his first MVP season and figures to be one of the top quarterbacks once again. He'll hope that second-year wide receiver Keon Coleman can have a breakout season and become a true number one option for Buffalo's passing attack.

Bills mafia provides the Bills with one of the best home crowds in all of football and should cause problems for Jackson and company as the Bills look to grab a huge win that could prove key to locking up the AFC's top seed come playoff time.

Line: BAL -1.5

Over/Under: 50.5

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